Today's seventh stage of the Dakar Rally was crucial for Yamaha's riders as they were strongly committed to reversing the order that was established in the first days of the competition, before the rest day in Salta. However, stormy weather hampered their efforts when the special got shortened. Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team's rider Hélder Rodrigues ended up in fifth place and Alessandro Botturi in twentieth, whilst the Yamalube Yamaha Junior Rally Team's Adrien Van Beveren and Xavier De Soultrait signed off the first week of Dakar in 17th and 23rd position respectively.
